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Andrea Okene is happy after scoring her first goal in the 2020-21 Spanish Reto Iberdrola for Levante despite losing 4-1 to Real Union de Tenerife at Pablos April stadium on Sunday.

Okene struck late to earn a consolation goal for her side as they were condemned by goals from Aldrith Quinteros, Rachel Gil Viera, Aroa Leon Gomez and Carla Gomez Torre to a fifth defeat.

The hosts had a perfect start to the encounter thanks to Quinteros' strike after just 16 minutes before Viera doubled the lead three minutes later and Gomez made it three in the 27th minute.

With three goals down, Estela Carbonell Nunez was sent off two minutes from half-time to compound the woes of Levante.

After the break, the hosts profited from the numerical advantage to extend their lead against Levante through Torre in the 70th minute.

Levante, however, pulled one back when Okene singlehandedly netted her first goal of the season deep inside injury time.

Since the start of the season, Okene, who played from the start to the finish has now contributed a goal in six matches for Levante.

Following her maiden goal of the season, the Nigerian-born Spanish youth international took to social media to share her joy.

Despite being born in Valencia to a Spanish mother, Okoye is eligible to feature for Nigeria at U20 and senior level, through her father who is a Nigerian.

The 19-year-old, who has been at Levante since 2016, helped the club to the second division in 2018-19 season and represented Spain at U16 level.

Sunday's defeat left Levante at the foot of the Reto Iberdrola Southern Group B table with three points from six matches.

They will aim to end a three-match winless run in their next outing against seventh-placed Femarguin next Sunday.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has signed a new contract that will keep him at Manchester City until 2024.

The Academy defender, who turns 19 next month, has made six senior appearances to date for his boyhood club including both Carabao Cup matches this season.

Harwood-Bellis is seen as one of the most promising players from a pool of talent emerging at the club and was part of the U-18s that won the FA Youth Cup in November.

“It is a great moment to spend another four years at this club," he said. "It is huge for me and my family being City fans.

"It is an amazing feeling and something I didn’t hesitate to get done. [My family] were ecstatic when I told them the news that I would be extending my contract and will be staying here for longer.

"It was a no-brainer if I asked them what they wanted to do, they would just say sign it now! It is amazing.”

Harwood-Bellis has been regular at first-team training and he and fellow Academy centre-back Eric Garcia won praise from Pep Guardiola for his performance in a Carabao Cup victory over Oxford last year.

Garcia, however, has turned a down a contract offer and is expected to join Barcelona in January or at the end of the season.

That would move Stockport-born Harwood-Bellis up the pecking order although he still has to compete with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake for a starting spot.

“There is no specific goals. I just know where I want to go and I keep that inside," he added.

"When it comes, then you can push onto the next one, so my goals are to stay in the first team and stay in Pep’s mind and stay there.

"If I keep working hard, I know my chance will come and when I get that chance I will take it because that is what I want to do.

"If you set your mind to it, it is going to happen. I have just got to keep working hard and stay humble.”

Fellow Academy players Liam Delap, Tommy Doyle, Cole Palmer and Felix Nmecha have all played for the first team this season and Harwood-Bellis says they are all working hard to break into the first team.

“To have not just team-mates but my mates I went to school with and being in the changing room with them has made a massive difference," he said.

"You can go in and see the familiar faces of your mates that you are still in contact with.

"You can see how close we all are and when we come to play in the EDS we are altogether, all want to win and the attitude doesn’t change.

"By training with your mates and even in the free time you get playing pool, or eating together, you have got that bit in common and still have a good relationship with them.

“The academy has been such a help with the way they treat you and they make you the person you are so you are ready.

"The football they play, it doesn’t change from the academy right up to the first-team.

"When I went up to the first-team, I knew I was technically good enough, it is just now I have got to get up to the speed both physically and mentally of how quick they play. The academy has helped so much with how I have progressed and how I have got to the first-team.”

The National Women’s Soccer League has announced that Kansas City will be awarded an expansion team for the 2021 season, with the Utah Royals shutting down operations and transfering all players to the new Kansas City franchise.

The move come just three years after the reverse move took place, with FC Kansas City shutting down operations in 2017 and transforming into the Utah franchise.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our league, and I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Kansas City back to the NWSL,” NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement.

“Kansas City is a soccer-rich community, and this fantastic ownership group is ready and able to commit the resources necessary for this club to be a massive success. I’d also like to thank the fans in Utah for their incredible support of the NWSL.”

The move comes after Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen found himself in trouble for comments made over players on MLS side Real Salt Lake, which he also owns, refusing to play a match this summer to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, in Wisconsin.

Hansen has been forced to sell both teams. While MLS is looking to take over RSL while an ownership group is found, the NWSL has facilitated a transfer of ownership to a group led by wife and husband team Angie and Chris Long. 

“Chris and I could not be more ecstatic to welcome a team back to Kansas City, especially as the league has been transformed by innovative leadership and explosive growth. We are committed to getting this right – for our team and our town,” said Angie Long. 

“We can’t wait for the players and the country to see what we have long known: there’s something special about living in Kansas City and something even more special about playing here.”

The new Kansas City franchise, which has yet to announce a name, will become the second team to join NWSL in 2021, along with expansion side Racing Louisville. 

Last month, Louisville began to build their roster in an expansion draft during which they selected U.S. women's national team stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press.

Following the integration of Kansas City and Louisville in 2021, Angel City FC in Los Angeles will join the league in 2022.

Joachim Low will do what he feels is best for Germany's hopes of Euro 2020 success when it comes to making a decision on the futures of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.

All three players were banished into the international wilderness by Low in March 2019 as he looked to build towards the future after Germany flopped at the 2018 World Cup, exiting in the group stage for the first time since 1938.

Attacking midfielder Muller (100 caps), plus defenders Boateng (76 caps) and Hummels (70 caps), boast 246 international caps between them and were all in the team that won the World Cup in 2014, but are now each 30 years of age.

Low reiterated last month that he would stand by his choice not to recall any of the trio, saying "nothing has changed" his opinion despite Muller enjoying a resurgence for Bayern Munich since being cast aside.

However, Low's decision has been under intense scrutiny following last month's 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain - Germany's heaviest defeat since losing to Austria in a friendly in 1931 by the same scoreline.

The 60-year-old was last week publicly backed by the German Football Association (DFB) to stay on until at least next year's rescheduled Euro 2020 finals and, speaking at a news conference on Monday where he also hit out at press leaks, he backtracked on his previous comments.

"After 2018 we saw that it was a very unsuccessful year, we said we were making a change," he said. "It is important to give young players time and the opportunity to develop during a transition. 

"Like the 2010 tournament, something where the team developed. And because of the experience they have gained there, we are world champions in 2014. That was our requirement this time too. 

"A trainer is always the first to be held responsible for success. I've always said when I see before the nomination [of the squad] that this team needs this or that - then we will do that. At the moment I don't see any reason, even if we lost a game. 

"But next year we'll have to make a decision and I'll be the first to do that. It's not just sporting reasons that decide what does the best team look like, what is the energy of the team.

"But when I have the feeling, then I will do everything I can to achieve success. I have no idea what the situation will be like in March. I hope all players get through the winter well and stay healthy.

"We had a lot of injury problems. I hope that doesn't happen again. Let's think again about everything and turn every stone over. We then decide what is best for success."

Asked if he has already reached out to Bayern duo Muller and Boateng, or Borussia Dortmund centre-back Hummels, Low replied: "No, I have not."

Low has been criticised in Germany for failing to watch players up close in Bundesliga matches, but he has put his prolonged absence from grounds down to coronavirus-related protocols.

"We'd love to walk to every stadium if we could do that," he said. "It was the clear instruction to us, also from the doctors in the national team, not to go to the stadiums. On the one hand, we have international matches and we have to be in the bubble. 

"We don't want to endanger anyone and we don't want to be endangered either. It would be bad if we coaches were absent. It was clear that we were in the bubble with the national team. 

"That was also true until the end of the season, because from above - politicians also said to avoid contacts. It is a dangerous situation that, unfortunately, is not ebbing right now. We said we had a certain role model function. 

"Believe me, I know the Bundesliga like the back of my hand. We have a great team, trainers and scouts. We watch all games. We know the strengths and weaknesses of all of our players. 

"We look at the games, enter the data in our database and evaluate them. Then we also target the training in a targeted manner. But we will be role models until the end of the year and will not go to the stadiums."

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has downplayed the severity of Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ head injury during their 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.

During the Premier League encounter played at the London Stadium on November 30, the Egypt international went down under the challenge of Declan Rice while trying to connect to Douglas Luiz’s flick in the 71st minute.

That left Trezeguet with a deep cut with the medical team rushing to the field to attend to his bleeding head. Subsequently, he was replaced by Netherlands international Anwar El Ghazi.

Although the referee awarded a penalty to the Villans, Ollie Watkins missed from the penalty mark – failing to beat Lukasz Fabianski who dived the wrong way.

Meanwhile, Smith has revealed that the former Anderlecht and Kasimpasa star is not down with a serious injury and has commenced training with the rest of the squad.

“Trez won the penalty and unfortunately caught his head on Declan Rice’s boot and ended up with a head injury which has been glued,” the 49-year-old Englishman told Aston Villa TV.

“He’s been self-administering a bandage around his head while he trains but he’s still been doing a couple of headers so he’s fine.”

Aston Villa’s fixture against Newcastle United over the weekend was postponed because of a local Covid-19 outbreak as positive cases reached double figures.

The Magpies will wait for more test results before holding a meeting with the Premier League and Public Health England to determine when they can return to training.

In nine games played so far in the 2020-21 English top-flight campaign, Trezeguet contributed a great deal, helping his side secure five wins to sit 12th after accruing 15 points with two games in hand.

If the statement by his manager is anything to go by, he is expected to be fit for their next league outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 12 at the Molineux Stadium.

10th placed Wolves would be hoping to return to winning ways in the wake of their recent 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Jamshedpur picked up their first win of the season and denied ATK Mohun Bagan their fourth consecutive victory with a 2-1 display at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Monday.

Nerijus Valskis scored a brace for Jamshedpur while ATK Mohun Bagan cut short the deficit with a goal from Roy Krishna. 

ATK Mohun head coach Antonio Habas admitted concern about his team conceding goals from the set-pieces. Habas mentioned that his side had only conceded once from the set-piece in the previous season but they have done it twice already in the ongoing edition.

"In last season we conceded one goal (from set-piece), this season (we have let in) two in one match. We have to improve in training," Antonio Habas said after the game.

ATK Mohun Bagan have been accused of playing a bit too defensively in games but Habas disagreed when it was suggested that his team didn't do well because they couldn't counter attack. 

"Today it was not possible to counter attack because the opposition played a lot of long balls. I don't understand when people say that we play counter-attack. It is a fantastic lie."
 

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC) head coach Mike Mutebi has given injury updates ahead of the Ugandan Premier League encounter against Onduparaka FC on Tuesday.

It will be another opportunity for KCCA to register a win against the Caterpillars after picking a 2-1 victory against Bright Stars in the opener.

Mutebi revealed Gift Ali is now fit and will start in the Tuesday game but another three stars, as well as the national U20 players, will not be part of the game.

“Gift Ali was injured but he is back now, is going to start and so largely, the team that represented us against Bright Stars is the team that is going to represent us again,” Mutebi told the club’s website.

“I need all of my starters fit and Ali is going to add more because he is very key in the whole play.

“Julius Poloto, Sadat Anaku, and John Revita, of course, are all injured and the ones who played for the U20 side are not available largely because they are not tested.”

Mutebi said they are ready for the Onduparaka encounter especially after the opening win which he says was key for their confidence.

“We were truly motivated by the win and you know when you start by winning it gives you confidence,” he added. “So, the players are very confident, have prepared very well and we are going to play very well.

“Onduparaka are not going to be easy but we have had a number over them but I think it is going to be a different Onduparaka altogether.

“We have had a number over them but we must fight and win beautifully.”

The experienced tactician, however, picked an issue with his players especially in how they faced Bright Stars on Thursday.

“The problem with our players has always been inconsistency,” he concluded.

“They play very well in the first half and can score up to five goals in that half and in the second half, they wrongly think it is all finished.

“We need to be consistent and score more goals. Consistency is still lacking but I believe they are going to solve that.”

Onduparaka were held to a 1-1 draw by Express FC in their respective opener.

England have been drawn alongside Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino in Group I as UEFA completed the draw for World Cup qualifying on Monday.

Qualifying will begin on March 24-25 of 2021 with the total of 10 matchdays being played between then and the middle of November.

The world’s top-ranked side Belgium were paired with Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus and Estonia in Group E as they look to return to the World Cup after defeating England in the third-place game in 2018.

The 2018 World Cup winners France, meanwhile, will have to combat Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kazakhstan in Group D while runners-up Croatia were drawn with Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.

The seedings were based on FIFA world rankings on November 26, with Belgium, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands the top-ranked sides, making them unable to be drawn together.

The ten group winners qualify automatically for the finals which will take place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.

Following the completion of group play, the 10 group runners-up will go into the playoffs in March 2022, where they will be joined by the two best group winners of the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League that have neither qualified directly for the final tournament as European Qualifiers group winners, nor entered the play-offs already as European Qualifiers group runners-up.

The full groups are as follows:

Group A

Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan

Group B

Spain, Sweden, Greece, Georgia, Kosovo

Group C

Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania

Group D

France, Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan

Group E

Belgium, Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus, Estonia

Group F

Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Israel, Faroe Islands, Moldova

Group G

Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Montenegro, Latvia, Gibraltar

Group H 

Croatia, Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta

Group I

England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino 

Group J

Germany, Romania, Iceland, North Macedonia, Armenia, Liechtenstein

Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Anthony Laffor has denied any bad blood between him and former coach Pitso Mosimane and says leaving the Brazilians “is not the end,” as he also declares his readiness to open a new chapter in his playing career.

The 35-year-old was let go from his contract by Sundowns last week together with veteran defender Wayne Arendse and midfielder Katlego Otladisa.

After injuries limited his game time for the past three seasons, Laffor parted ways with Downs but he says he is not bitter and “life has to go on.”

“Coach Manqoba Mngqithi was the first person to call me. Unfortunately, I can’t disclose the details of our conversation,” Laffor told the City Press print edition as per Phakaaathi.

“All I can say is that I respect the club’s decision and I bear no grudges. Leaving Sundowns isn’t the end – life has to go on. I’ve won everything with the club. What more could I ask for?”

The Liberian’s departure put a close to his trophy-laden stint at Sundowns where he arrived in 2012.

At Downs, he won five Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles, a Caf Champions League crown, Caf Super Cup, two Nedbank Cups and as many Telkom Knockout trophies.

But after gaining full fitness towards the end of last season, Laffor was still frozen out of the playing team, fuelling already existing rumours that he was no longer in the good books with former Downs coach Mosimane.

The player, however, denies any rift existed between him and the Al Ahly tactician who signed him from SuperSport United.

“There was nothing personal between me and Pitso,” said Laffor.

“We’ve kept in contact since he moved to Egypt. I remained humbled while waiting for game time, believe in time. I’m 100% fit now and ready for my next move.”

It is not yet clear if the Liberian’s next move will see him remaining in the PSL where he first arrived in 2005 to sign for Jomo Cosmos.

He won two league titles with SuperSport United, which makes him one of the most decorated players in the PSL.

Joachim Low is "immensely disappointed" at the way stories regarding his future were leaked to the press but is convinced he remains the right person to manage Germany.

World Cup-winning boss Low has been under huge pressure following last month's 6-0 Nations League humbling at the hands of Spain.

It was Germany's heaviest defeat since losing to Austria in a friendly in 1931 by the same scoreline and led to rumours that Low, in charge since 2006, was on his way out.

German Football Association (DFB) president Fritz Keller offered his backing to Low in the days after the loss and the governing body last week confirmed he will stay in charge.

However, reports in Germany have suggested Keller tried to convince Low to cut short his contract by a year so that a new coach could be brought in after next year's rescheduled Euro 2020.

Low broke his silence at a news conference on Monday and, while disappointed at what has been said and reported in the past few weeks, he is hopeful of now moving on.

"I would like to put one thing in the right light: I am always open to constructive criticism," he said. "So I was amazed to read and hear certain stuff after the Spain defeat.

"We were all disappointed and angry that we let the fans down in the final game of 2020. The anger is still seething inside me. We don't have the chance to correct the result. 

"As always, we immediately started looking ahead. There were also some discussions with the DFB last Monday - it wasn't possible earlier. 

"I grew up with the fact that things that are discussed internally remain internal. It has to do with trust and credibility. You can also openly express your opinion. 

"But I was very annoyed that a lot of things leaked out after the first press release - by whoever. That disappointed me immensely. 

"I also said at the meeting that there were things that had happened that disappointed me. I made it clear to Fritz Keller once again on the phone what I heard about the matter.

"There is nothing more to say about it. But that stays with me. We have spoken out and that is the end of the matter for me."

Speaking at the weekend, meanwhile, Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff revealed he held talks with Ralf Rangnick over succeeding Low as head coach.

"I'm not sure whether he actually said that or hinted at it," Low said. "He didn't speak to me personally about it. But of course it's part of his job to think about it fundamentally.

"What happens if...? What are the next steps...? That's why he doesn't have to talk to me about it. That's not a problem for me. I think that's a manager's job. 

"As Oliver always said: After the next tournament, a balance will be drawn. Then the association and also the coach have to decide whether the goals have been achieved or not. 

"So it is completely normal to take care of things that can happen in good time. This is completely understandable for me."

The DFB released a statement a week after the Spain debacle stating Low would be given "time and emotional distance" before a decision would be made on his future.

Again, though, Low was unhappy with the wording of the statement.

"There was a press release that I needed an emotional distance. That was incomprehensible to me. I've been there for a long time and have seen a lot of things. 

"I said give me a day and then I'll be available for anything. I was disappointed with that, with some things that got public. Which partly did not correspond to the truth. 

"I have once again made it very clear internally that I want unity and trust in things that are discussed internally. I made that clear."

Germany's defeat to Spain brought an end to a 12-match unbeaten run and saw them finish second in Nations League Group A4. 

J1 League outfit Vissel Kobe are enjoying a good run in the 2020 AFC Champions League East Zone tournament, currently being held in Qatar. 

The Kobe-based football club have just progressed to the quarter-finals (semifinals of the East Zone tournament) of the continent's premier club competition. They notched a facile 2-0 win over Chinese giants Shanghai SIPG on Monday at the Khalifa International stadium, one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup. 

Powering them forward was none other than Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, who scored the opening goal in the 31st minute. Right winger Daigo Nishi, who has previously won the competition with Kashima Antlers, scored the second goal five minutes into the second half to send Vissel Kobe into the quarter-finals. 

It is a brilliant result for Vissel Kobe who are playing their first-ever AFC Champions League campaign, thanks to their Emperor's Cup win in 2019. And they are ensuring that their maiden campaign among Asia's best is one to remember. 

"We are very happy that we played very well and the players stuck to the instructions. This victory is not just for us, but for all the fans back in Japan who sent us their messages of support," said Vissel Kobe coach Atsuhiro Miura.

Hearteningly, it is their marquee signing in Andres Iniesta who is making the difference in Qatar. He scored a goal in a 3-1 win over Guangzhou Evergrande - a result that helped the club reach the Round of 16 from the group stages. 

The Spanish playmaker was involved throughout on Monday as well, producing an array of his trademark passes and taking the occasional potshot at goal while playing behind the Brazilian Douglas who led the lines well. Rightly so, he was named the man of the match as well. 

His goal was a throwback to the vintage form he displayed at his peak. He received the ball from Hotaru Yamaguchi, dribbled his way into the box and placed a finish past three defenders and the goalkeeper. 

The 36-year-old, who has literally won it all in a glittering career, looked to be as hungry as ever during the 65 minutes he was on the pitch. The result brings a very special achievement very much in the realms of possibility for Iniesta. 

Not many have won the continental titles in both Asia and Europe (at least ever since AFC Champions League was remodeled into the current format in 2001). One name that comes off the top of your head is Italian coach Marcelo Lippi who won the UEFA Champions League with Juventus (1995-96) before winning the AFC Champions League with Guangzhou Evergrande (2013). 

However, Lippi did it as a coach. Iniesta certainly has a chance to become the first player to do so. Thomas Vermaelen, former Barcelona defender who is also a part of the Vissel Kobe side, can also achieve this feat alongside Iniesta. 

And Doha could witness this historic moment if Iniesta and Vermaelen manage to power Vissel Kobe to the holy grail. 

There is a bit of concern for Vissel Kobe though, given Iniesta was taken off after suffering what look like a thigh injury. They will hope the master playmaker's injury is nothing serious and he returns for the semifinals. 

Kenya U17 are set to leave for Rwanda on Tuesday ahead of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) U17 Championship.

The Oliver Page-led charges are targeting a top-two finish in the annual competition to seal their place in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The team has been training for the competition hoping to topple the competitors and win the competition.

Kenya are pooled with rivals Uganda and Ethiopia in Group B while hosts Rwanda are in Group A alongside Eritrea and South Sudan. Group C has Sudan, Djibouti and Tanzania.

Meanwhile, defending champions Uganda have named their squad for the competition. 

Coach Hamuza Lutalo opted to go for a 20-man squad hoping to successfully defend their title.

Among those in the team is Express FC duo Mwebe Henry and Humphrey Oyirwoth. 

Defenders Ibrahim Juma (KCCA FC), Enock Luyima (Volf), Simon Mukisa (KCCA), Peter Gava (Express FC) are also on the team.

Uganda and Kenya will be aiming to renew their rivalry after the U20 teams met in the semi-finals a couple of days ago.

The Hippos managed to get a 3-1 win over the Stanley Okumbi-led Rising Stars.

It took Uganda 22 minutes to open the scoring against their neighbours. A good move ended up with the ball on Kenneth Semakula who managed to beat the goalkeeper from close range.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0; Kenya were aiming at an instant reply and were caught in a counter-attack. Ivan Bogere managed to keep his cool and double the advantage.

Uganda, deservedly, went into the break with a 2-0 advantage as the Kenyans got a chance to strategize and come back stronger.

Even after the break, it was the Hippos who looked likely to get another goal.

It became worse for the Okumbi-coached team when the Rising Stars conceded a penalty in the 63rd minute, and Bogere stepped up to complete his brace and make the score 3-0.

With 10 minutes to go, Kenya pulled a goal back courtesy of Enock Wanyama, but it was too little too late.

The U17 competition starts on Saturday, December 12.

Goalkeepers: Mwebe Henry (Express FC), Magada Abdu (Busoga United), Oyirwoth Humphrey (Express FC)

Defenders: Vincent Mulema (Kyetume FC), Ibrahim Juma (KCCA FC), Enock Luyima (Volf), Simon Mukisa (KCCA), Peter Gava (Express FC), Madoi Ronald (Wakiso Giants)

Midfielders: Ivan Irinimbabazi (Bright Stars FC), Kaliisa Shugai (Express FC), Travis Mutyaba (Vipers SC), Eddy Elvis Mwanje (KCCA), Samir Mudiba (Express FC)

Forwards: Oscar Mawa (KCCA), Issa Bugembe (Bright Stars), Jumbe Fahad (Vipers SC)Basil Tenywa Tuma (Eton College, UK)

The Champions League has featured some of the best goalscorers in history.

As the premier club competition in Europe and arguably the world, it is a stage that has been graced by countless icons of football.

Striking sensations such as Raul and Andriy Shevchenko dominated during the 1990s and 2000s, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have taken the art of scoring to a whole new level.

Goal takes a look at the all-time top scorers in the competition's history, dating back to the inaugural European Cup in 1955.

As you can see from our table below, Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in the history of the Champions League (including the European Cup). He is closely followed by his arch-rival, Barcelona's Lionel Messi .

There is a significant gulf between that pair and the rest, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski following in third. Lewandowski is level with Madrid icon Raul .

Karim Benzema completes the top five, with the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry and Alfredo di Stefano the best of the rest.

Champions League/European Cup all-time top 20 goalscorers:

*Correct as of December 2, 2020
**The list takes into consideration data from 1955-present
***Players in bold are still active

The composition of the all-time goalscorers list is mostly made up of players who are playing or played in the modern Champions League era (i.e. 1992 onwards) which has added more contintental games to the modern day calendar. Specifically, of the 20 players in the list above, 15 of them played from the mid 1990s on.

However, despite that, two players who played in the pre-Champions League era (when the tournament was known as the European Cup) still figure prominently, with former Real Madrid star Alfredo di Stefano and Benfica icon Eusebio featuring in and around the top 10.

Ferenc Puskas , who shone for Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s, is also in the top 20. Former Bayern Munich striker Gerd Muller is in the top 20 and no player comes remotely close to his phenomenal goals-per-game ratio of 0.95.

Puskas boasted a goal-to-game ratio of 0.85 and Di Stefano's was 0.84, while Messi's is currently 0.81, which is undoubtedly the best in the modern era.

South Africa legend Benni McCarthy is tipped to take over as AmaZulu coach after Ayanda Dlamini stepped down from the role on Monday.

The 36-year-old will return to the Usuthu youth development ranks as Allan Freese takes over as interim coach.

"Coach Ayanda has done a phenomenal job since assuming the head coaching role,” AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu told the club website.

“The passion and zeal the players have demonstrated under his tenure as head coach demonstrates that he is one of the prospects for the future.

“We will continue to trust him with the advancement of our development structures because he is fully committed to Vision 2032. His role is very integral in ensuring that AmaZulu have a solid base of young players coming through the ranks.”

As the AmaZulu “management evaluate a way forward,” regarding the search for a new substantive coach, McCarthy’s name has surfaced as the favourite to take charge at the KwaZulu-Natal side as per reports by Far Post and various other publications. 

Owen da Gama, Eric Tinkler and Shaun Bartlett have also been mentioned as possible Dlamini replacements.

Bafana Bafana great McCarthy has completed a full year without a job after leaving City in November 2019, while Da Gama last coached Highlands Park in the PSL bio-bubble.

Tinkler is available following his recent sacking by Maritzburg United, while former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Bartlett is unattached since his former boss Ernst Middendorp was fired by Amakhosi at the end of last season.

Dlamini leaves AmaZulu placed 11th on the Premier Soccer League standings after managing one win, three draws and two defeats.

He had been entrusted with permanent first-team duties after saving the club from relegation as interim coach last season following the dismissal of Jozef Vukusic.

The former Usuthu forward becomes the fourth PSL coach to lose his job this season after Dylan Kerr was fired by Baroka FC, Patrick Aussems' sacking by Black Leopards and Tinkler losing his Maritzburg United post.

Timo Werner will prove to be “a very good buy” for Chelsea, says Glenn Hoddle, with the German forward considered the pick of the Blues’ summer transfer business.

Frank Lampard invested heavily in a number of household names during the last window.

Werner was among the first to be snapped up, with a man who had been heavily linked with a switch to Liverpool ending up at Stamford Bridge.

A deal for Hakim Ziyech was done even earlier, with the talented Morocco international winger lured away from Ajax.

Notable signings were completed on a regular basis from that point, with the likes of Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell acquired in big-money agreements.

Thiago Silva was also brought in to add his vast experience to the Blues’ back line, while Edouard Mendy has replaced the error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks.

Hoddle admits that Chelsea spent wisely, as they now look to piece a Premier League title challenge together, but he believes a 24-year-old forward with eight goals to his name could prove to be their shrewdest addition.

The former Blues player and coach told the Evening Standard: “It is a tough one. Edouard Mendy could be very important, but by the end of the season I think we will look back and think Timo Werner will be the one.

“He can play down the middle, he can play left and he could have had three or four goals against Leeds on Saturday [in a 3-1 win for Chelsea].

“Hakim Ziyech is a very good player. There will be games where he will be outstanding and I think spells maybe where we will not see him.

“Kai Havertz has got to show more. There is more to come from him, do not get me wrong, he is a very good player.

“But I would go for Werner, I think we will look back and think he was a very good buy.”

Chelsea spent £47.5 million ($62m) on Werner when activating his release clause at RB Leipzig.

His versatility and keen eye for goal made him of obvious appeal to a number of sides across Europe, but Lampard’s desire to get another proven frontman onto his books saw the Blues act swiftly and decisively to get a deal done.

Bidco United assistant coach Simon Wagema has openly claimed they lost to AFC Leopards in an FKF Premier League match because of their own mistakes.

The promoted side came up against Ingwe in their second match of the 2020-21 campaign and left empty-handed after a second-half double from Elvis Rupia ensured AFC Leopards won 2-0 at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.

Wagema, who was standing in for head coach Anthony Akhulia has now revealed to Goal they had matched Ingwe toe to toe in the first half but defensive lapses in the second period allowed their opponents to score two goals and hence the defeat.

“We started very well. In the first half, we created our own chances that we did not utilise but as the game progressed we gave them [AFC Leopards] room to attack and created lapses at the back and we got punished for our own mistake,” Wagema told Goal.

“AFC Leopards is a big team and you should know that if you commit mistakes against a big team then you will be punished, we have to review the game and check what we did wrong and where we can improve before our next match.”

On whether he can pick on individual players that were below par against AFC Leopards, Wagema said: “On my players, I cannot pick on individuals, what I can say is that it was a game of two halves, and the overall performance of my team was better in the first half but poor in the second period, we will have to review the mistakes before our next match.”

Rupia scored the first goal in the 70th minute after completing a through ball to Bienvenue Shaka before the former Wazito Fc striker added the second for Ingwe in the 82nd minute but was withdrawn four minutes later as Hansel Ochieng was given some playtime.

Rupia’s brace enabled Ingwe to pick their second win of the campaign as they had beaten Tusker 2-1 in the season, where he also notched one goal, while Bidco United are yet to win a match, as they drew 0-0 with Western Stima in their first match.

Bidco United will next take on Kariobangi Sharks while AFC Leopards will come up against Sofapaka, both matches will be played on December 12, 2020.

Kaizer Chiefs would be hoping to end their struggle for goals following news striker Samir Nurkovic will start training this week.

Amakhosi have played 10 matches across all competitions so far this season and of the six goals they have managed, three have come from defenders, two from forward Leonardo Castro and another one from an opposition own goal.

This has exposed the glaring attacking frailties and news of Nurkovic’s imminent return to competitive action comes as the club is desperate to ease their goalscoring shortcomings.

“Samir Nurkovic returns to training this week. His progress will be monitored and further updates will follow,” Chiefs announced on social media.

The Serb was initially slated to start training just after the November Fifa international period but the club has not stated the delay in his comeback.

There is also no update on the time frame of his possible involvement in his first match of the season after getting injured before the start of the term.

The 28-year-old offers hope to Chiefs after ending last season as the club’s top-scorer with 13 Premier Soccer League (PSL) goals.

In his absence, fellow attackers like Khama Billiat, Lebogang Manyama, Lazarous Kambole and Bernard Parker have been battling to get goals.

Also currently out injured for Chiefs is right-back Reeve Frosler who is recovering from a knock on his knee.

Frosler was injured during the MTN8 semi-final, second leg showdown against Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates, a match he lasted just 28 minutes.

“Reeve Frosler is recovering well from his knee injury and will remove the brace this week. He is expected back in January,” announced Chiefs.

The 22-year-old defender made four appearances in all competitions this season and stepping into his shoes has been Kgotso Moleko.

Chiefs continue their business without the duo as they now prepare to take on Black Leopards in Wednesday’s league match at FNB Stadium.

After the Black Leopards match, they will face SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic in PSL fixtures, before hosting Angolan giants Primeiro Agosto in a Caf Champions League first round, first leg match on December 22.

Harry Maguire insists nobody at Manchester United has “even thought about the Europa League” as the Red Devils prepare to enter the Champions League’s last-chance saloon.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are due in Germany on Tuesday for a crunch clash with RB Leipzig. United head into that contest say top of Group H and know avoiding defeat will see them safely through to the last-16.

Coming unstuck, though, could see them tumble into third spot, with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Istanbul Basaksehir in the group’s other game.

Failure to reach the knockout stages would see United have to make peace with the consolation prize of a spot in the last-32 of the Europa League, but Maguire is adamant that elite continental competition remains the target for those looking to maintain “tradition” at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils captain told a pre-match press conference: “We expect to get through the group, no matter who is in our group. That is the tradition and as a group of players we fully expect to get through. We look forward to the game. All we can do is look after the performance.

“You play better teams with better players, that is just a fact. It is a challenge, one we want to be involved in, but we haven't even thought about the Europa League.”

United do not have to turn the clock back far to find the last time they faced an all-or-nothing encounter with Champions League football on the line.

Back in July, as an elongated 2019-20 campaign ended, Solskjaer’s men knew they needed to beat Leicester on the final day in order to finish in the Premier League top four.

They obliged with a 2-0 win secured at the King Power Stadium, and Maguire is looking to put that experience to good use as the Red Devils seek to transfer their fine domestic away form onto a European stage.

He added: “First and foremost, I joined this club to play in the biggest games possible.

“Your big players step up in the most pressured games, so for sure I think that's a statement which shows over the years, that the big players step up in the big games.

“It's a bit similar to the game at Leicester last year where we had to get a result to reach the Champions League and we managed to do that, so we'll take confidence from that, but we feel ready, we feel prepared and we're looking forward to it.”